Smart City Challenge
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) is proposing metro in Srinagar, ring road for Dal Lake, de-congestion and replacing of the rusted tin roofs in downtown for the next round of Smart City competition to be organized Union Ministry of Urban Development (MUD) in January 2017.
There are 100 cities which are competing in it from all over India.
This is for the first time Srinagar and Jammu cities would be taking part in the competition.
Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been given the responsibility of making the proposal for Srinagar as the smart city.
“Smart infrastructure is coming in the city and everything will be digitized,” said Altaf Hussain Mir who is the part of the team of smart city design constituted by SMC.
He said there has to be provision of smart transport for which they have decided to propose metro connecting whole of the Srinagar. A transit zone will also be developed.
The uniqueness about the Srinagar is that it is a heritage city which possesses immense tourism potential.
“The emphasis is on enhancing Srinagar as the heritage and tourism city,” said Altaf.
Downtown which is known for its old architecture will also witness some changes.
“The rusted roofs of the old city will be replaced and we are planning to make it decongested,” said Altaf.
Altaf also added that cluster markets would be made on the banks of Jhelum River especially in the downtown area.
“Earlier we had proposed the same plan to the government though it was approved but due to lack of funds it was not implemented.”
Altaf also said that housing structures in the city would be made uniform as the strict enforcement of the uniformity of design in the houses of the city will be ensured.
Out of 73 cities, Srinagar has been ranked 48th by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India in the February 2016 on cleanliness and sanitation.
“A satellite town will be made on the outskirts of the city either in Pampore or in Budgam,” said Altaf
A survey is being carried out by SMC in this regard to get public opinion. “We do not have many experts in the state so we have made questionnaires consisting of eight questions. We have sent it to each household so that we get good suggestions,” said Altaf.
He said there are three models which are prescribed by Union Ministry of Urban Development – retrofitting, redevelopment and Greenfield.
If Srinagar is able to get its place in the list of Smart City then there will be additional funding by the Government of India.
“The Ministry of the Urban Development, Government of India will fund Rs 5000 crore in the first phase,” said Altaf.
According to Union Ministry of Urban Development, “The core infrastructure element in a smart city would include, adequate water supply, sanitation including solid waste management, efficient urban mobility and public transport, affordable housing especially for the poor, robust IT coonectivity and digitalisation, good governance especially e-governance and citizen participation, sustainable environment, safety and security of citizens particularly women children and the elderly, and health education.”
Special care has been taken of world famous Dal Lake.
“Around Dal Lake, a ring road has been proposed under which the sewage pipe will run. The sewage treatment plant will be upgraded so that the pure water enters into Dal Lake.”
A floating market in the middle of the lake is also in the proposal.
A road will be constructed which will connect Saida Kadal and Nishat through Dal lake.
“The priority is to make Dal clean as it was before 1950s,” said Altaf
Professor Nisar Ali, Eminent Economist said the concept that Union Government is implementing is old concept which was implemented in the western world in 1980s.
He also said that biggest challenge for the Srinagar city would be to attract the Foreign Investment in the mega project.
He said date not a single dollar has entered J&K.
